Menu

Life lesson

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexatious to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

Share this:

8 thoughts on “Life lesson”

Thank you all for the nice comments. I really should rekindle my blog… :o))) This poem has not been written by me, I found it on the internet. Those are my life values though. Nice to see that others find a message in it too. Sorry that it took so long before finding you all, I have been mia for a long time here, too much adapting to do with the move from England to the States. I will better my life! PRomised….

I absolutely love the poem “Life Lessons” You are a wonderful person, keep up the good work, your writing is truly special full of wisdom and love of life. I don’t know how I got onto your page but I am glad it found me!

Hi Catherine … I enjoyed talking with you at Crater Lake on 09/14/2016. The card you left me led me to this page. I LOVE your Life Lesson poem and wanted to know if you wrote it yourself. I see myself and my life beliefs in so much of it.
Also, enjoyed your photo’s. Do you still do photography?
Hope you had a great journey with your husband … we are back home now after a beautiful family wedding in Bend, Oregon. Back to work tomorrow! Are you on Facebook?
Kathy

I enjoyed watching my wife, Kathy, talk with you at Crater Lake. She is an open book, though usually somewhat private, and I enjoyed watching her share some of herself with you…and likewise. She has developed a passion for photography and truly has the eye of an artist…she sees things most of us miss and manages to capture them.
Enjoying your webpage and will come back often!
Mike McCay